Projected deficit starts talk of levy

[Rick Uldricks]

deleted

[Bill Call]

One of the little scams the education bureaucracy likes to engage in is asking for levies far in excess of what is needed so than can say things like "We haven't asked for an operating levy in 5 years".

Students in Lakewood who come to school to learn get a great education. Those who don't, don't. The amount of money a district spends has no correlation to the quality of education.

[Dee Martinez]

So managing ones income to stretch a raise as far as possible is now considered a "scam"?

If the schools had asked for less in 2002 and had to come back in 2005 or 2006 like most other districts, youd be claiming they were spending to much and couldnt live within their means. So they ask for a bigger levy WHICH VOTERS AGREED TO and were able to go longer, and according to you, thats no good either.


Admit it. even if the schools sent YOU checks every month you wouldnt be happy.

[Bill Call]

Admit it. even if the schools sent YOU checks every month you wouldnt be happy.

How much?

I knew you were out there somewhere.

The district needs:

Three year wage freeze
Employees pay 50% of insurance premium
Employees pay the employee portion of the pension
Implement drug testing to get the 20% workers comp discount

If they do those things and still need money I will be happy to give it to them.

Of course it will still be difficult for districts to manage without real constitutional reform in Ohio. Right now the State dictates programs to the local communities, seizes the lions share of tax revenues, cuts taxes that benefits local schools and communities and sends the locals the bill.

My solution?

Short term:The local communites form their own political action committees to raise the necessary funds to provide the bribes to State officials to get more money to the local communities and less to Columbus.

Long term: Local communities and districts will receive their prorated share of all State taxes, the State will get very little of its current funding while at the same time the local communities will mandate that the State continue to spend money on things the local communities want. Something like the State now does to local communities.

AND REMEMBER:

There is no correlation between the amount of money spent on schools and the performance of students.

[Katie Sizemore]

Hey Bill Call, After taking wages and benifits away from school employees and city workers, why not strip away all of their dignity and whip them every now and then when they get out of line. Maybe you can purchase a few of them and put them to work on your farm picking cotton. How dare these ingrade people eke out a living educating your kids, keeping the streets clear of snow and ice, and pick up your filet mignon discarded scraps from your garbage every week. I cant believe that these folks would even think they should expect to make a decent living in a city where you live. Shame on them!!!

[Bill Call]

Hey Bill Call, After taking wages and benifits away from school employees and city workers, why not strip away all of their dignity

Tens of millions of people in this country have gone without raises, paid more for medical benefits, lost pensions, had their social security cut, paid record amounts in new income taxes and property taxes, relocated, re-educated and re-invented themselves to survive in a very competative environment. All ...exept goverment employees.

Ask a school employee to pay more for health care? How absurd! Just pay and shut up!

Ask a school employee to go without a raise? How absurd! Just pay up and shut up!

Drug testing!! What are you crazy!!??

[Richard Cole]

Tens of millions of people in this country have gone without raises, paid more for medical benefits, lost pensions, had their social security cut, paid record amounts in new income taxes and property taxes

And that is why we need strong Unions! The disparity between the "haves" and the "have nots" is increasing.

[sharon kinsella]

Well Bill - when all of our first class teachers leave our community to go work for a school system that pays them a fair wage for the very difficult job that they do - we will have you take care of it - right?

[Dee Martinez]

Well Bill - when all of our first class teachers leave our community to go work for a school system that pays them a fair wage for the very difficult job that they do - we will have you take care of it - right?

Mr Call takes a lot of heat for his positions but hes not the only one who feels that way. Unfortunately a lot of people not only believe that all government employees are on the take, they also dont realize that some of those workers actually have some leverage of their own.
Its one thing to outsource trash pickup to a private company. Its something else when you have to negotiate with 400 people with professional degrees.
To a lot of folks however, and not just Mr Call, theres no distinction. Its all one position, "overpaid public worker"

[sharon kinsella]

Well Dee -

It would be just great to haul trash for minimum wage - have you ever dealt with the pool of available cheap labor? It's an amazing experience. Talk to managers at McDonald's, KFC and see how much great work they get and how many people they have to train to get one good employee.

It's also one thing to come to the table with all the money (read power) on their side and you, by yourself, trying to get a better rate.

What was it like the last time you negotiated for a raise?

I always did well - but not everyone else did so hot.

[Grace O'Malley]

For all the outrage Bill has over teacher salaries and school levies, the fact remains that school taxes are VOTED upon by the taxpayers. That means the majority of residents approved and agreed upon increasing taxes to fund the schools and pay teacher salaries.

We VOTE on the school board members who oversee the budget and all employee negotiations. We have a voice and a choice.

No one arbitrarily raised our taxes or the teacher's salaries without our collective consent. You might not like the results of the elections, but thats how our system works.

You may feel that the taxes are high in Lakewood, but the citizens VOTED to impose those taxes. Since no one i know particularly enjoys having to pay more tax, I must assume that they carefully considered whether the money was needed and would be put to good use.

There have been a few organized anti-school tax groups over the years yet the fact remains that the citizens of Lakewood have overwhelmingly supported the schools by voting to increase taxes.

That implies that the majority of citizens have been satisfied with the performance of the schools and their use of the money we give them.